14 Questions to Qualify your Gr8 new Business Idea
Questions: 1) What is it? 2) Determine? 3) Solve a Problem? 4) Pay? 5) Price? 6) Niche? 7) Passion? 8) Tested? 9) Feedback? 10) Marketing? 11) Goals? 12) Idea? 13) Sources? 14) Explore?
Starting a business can take an enormous amount of time and energy, so it’s essential to be passionate about your business idea. However, passion isn’t enough; you also need to understand – if your business idea is viable so your personal investment is worth the sacrifice.
To help new entrepreneurs: a) We’ll explain what a great business idea means, b) How to determine if you have one, and c) how to spark new business plans.
#1. What is a great Business idea?
A great business idea can be monetized and produce significant earnings. It poses a solution to a problem many people face. A great business idea is clearly defined to the point where you can explain it to someone effortlessly. Your great business idea is the foundation on which you can build a successful business.
#2 How to determine if you have a good Business Idea
Sometimes inspiration isn’t the problem; the challenge is determining whether you have a good Business idea. Critiquing your idea and requesting feedback from as many people as possible is crucial.
To help you evaluate your business idea, we consulted several experts to create essential questions / steps to ask yourself to determine whether your business idea has a chance for future success.
#3. Does your business idea Solve a Problem?
If there is a problem that affects you, your friends, family co-workers others, then the chances are high that it affects people you don’t know as well.
#4. Will people Pay $$$ for it?
Whether you’re focused on a creative new business idea or have an idea for an easy-to-start business, you’ll need customers. Paying customers validate an idea and determine which ones have the greatest chance for success. Anyone can discredit your idea, but no one can discredit paying customers.
#5. What’s your Price Point?
Great business ideas solve problems in a way that is less expensive than alternatives. Once you have determined that you are solving a legitimate problem in a scalable way, you need to determine not only the value that it delivers to the world but what people would pay for that value. Once you determine the $$$, then you can assess if your solution is business worthy or not.
Pricing Theories to Know?
Pricing your offerings can be tricky. Low prices can scare away customers, while Over-Pricing can limit sales. You need to set a price point that works for everyone while managing customers’ perception of your product or service.
#6. Is there a sizable Niche market for your idea?
Without a large enough market, your idea may never get off the ground. You must determine if a niche market exists for your idea. You’re better poised for success if your company improves upon what’s already out there – a novel response to a recognized need.
How can you tell if a business Niche is, in fact, a market? It’s a mix of research, gut instinct and personal preference. Consider overall industry trends, the amount of investment activity that’s taken place in the niche recently, how much is is availible from the consumer side and whether people are talking about it.
#7. Are you Passionate enough about your idea?
Your business will likely consume a lot of your time, so ensure you’re passionate about it to make it successful. Your idea must be something you genuinely care about, not just something you’ve targeted because it seems like it could be lucrative. Since starting a business requires a significant amount of time, energy and patience, ideally the idea will be one that you are passionate about as well as one that you have skills or experience [in].
#8. Have you Tested your idea?
You won’t know if it’s viable until you test your business idea on strangers who match the profile of your Target customer. Test it – not just with those who will be too polite to tell the truth – but with honest people who would make up your ideal Target Audience, and then listen to the feedback.
If your target audience is saying “It’s fantastic !!! and asking “Where can they get it?, you know that you’re onto something. “But if they are less than enthusiastic, it’s probably not as good an idea as you thought it was. Get some feedback as to “Why?
#9. Are you open to Feedback?
If you’re not open to changing or adapting your idea to fit what your Customers want, your business idea might not be worth pursuing.
Success happens when you are willing to listen and consider others’ advice – Feedback. Most good ideas take some tweaking to get to market. Being closed-minded is a business killer.
FB Tip: Find a Mentor, Career Coach or an Expert in that Industry who can offer their advice and experience while helping you evaluate your business idea.
#10. How will you Sell your Idea?
Many entrepreneurs think about the problems their business will solve, but not how they intend to market their company to their Target customers. Your marketing strategy can determine if your business idea is good.
If you have a goof Go-to-Market strategy and a decent product, you’ll probably be successful. But if you have a great product without any idea how to reach potential customers, then it’s going to be really tough to make it successful. Thinking through that as early as possible is really key.
#11. Realistic about your Goals?
As excited as you may be about a new business idea, staying grounded and realistic is essential. You shouldn’t have a Field of Dreams mentality when starting your business.
Just because you have a Vision and decide to build it – does not mean it will succeed. While you may have an idea that is original or ahead of its time, there should be a real, solid market opportunity to ensure it is successful. Any new business case or new endeavor has to have a viable market that you believe you can sell now – not theoretically or on the premise that there is a future for this market.”
Tip: To set achievable business goals, be specific about your plan. Find a marketer or support group to provide accountability, and visualize your success.
#12. How to come up with a Great Idea
To generate a great business idea, start by analyzing your strengths. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What are your passions? It’s crucial to choose something you’re passionate about and can see yourself doing day in, day out. For example, explore business ideas for fashion fanatics if you love fashion. If you’re excited about veganism, think of a vegan-friendly business idea.
- What do others tell you that you’re good at? If you’re the go-to person for certain chores or tasks, this might be a golden opportunity to turn that skill or talent into a business. Talk with your family and friends, and see what they think.
- What service do you wish existed that currently doesn’t? Say you search the app store for something specific, certain it exists, only to find it doesn’t. This is your chance. Pair up with an app designer or create an app that could benefit people like you worldwide. Consider problems that need solutions. Some of the most successful businesses offer products or services that solve problems for others.
Tip: You’ll know if your business idea stinks if experts advise against it, no one seems willing to buy it, no one wants to help, or you’re not even that excited.
#13. Helpful Sources to spark new Ideas
Sometimes you need a source of inspiration to spur that light-bulb moment. Try to find inspiration in the world around you. Here are four places to look for inspiration:
- Study successful Entrepreneurs. It’s difficult to know where you’re going if you don’t know the path of great entrepreneurs. Read origin stories and study successful Entrepreneurs in a similar industry. How did they come up with their business ideas? What advice do they have for up-and-coming entrepreneurs? Learn all you can before embarking on your journey.
- Use your SmartPhone. If you know you want to create an app, but you’re not sure exactly what you want to make, search the app store. Browse categories that interest you. Is anything missing, or could you vastly improve on an app’s premise?
- Search for similar Products or Services. The internet is incredibly helpful when finding products and services you need. But have you ever searched for something and been unable to find it? That should be a tip-off of a potential marketing opening you could fill.
- Turn to Social Media. People on social media are often quick to identify issues and problems with current products, places and processes. However, few take the time to create a solution. Reading through people’s grievances can give you great insight into problems you may be able to solve. Online review sites are another source of problems in need of solutions.
#14 Further explore your Business Idea
When you have a potentially great business idea, stop talking, then start writing & planning. Talking about an idea before doing some initial planning on paper tricks our brains into thinking you’ve actually making progress.
Maybe you always have new ideas popping up in your head. Or perhaps you’re looking for that next big idea to catapult you into business success. Either way, use these strategies to hone your concept and turn your ideas into products or services for a successful business !!!
Comments: Do you know any other Questions to ask about your Business Idea?
from Biz News Daily 8/23 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4.biz
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